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Digital Services (Disabled Access)

Volume 402: debated on Tuesday 25 March 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she will introduce to allow (a) hearing impaired and (b) other disabled people to use digital TV, radio and telephone services. [104528]

The Government recognise that disabled people often need terminal equipment with particular features if they are to be able effectively to access communications services. The regulation of these matters is decided at a wider European level and the standards established have effect across Europe.

We are working with manufacturers, the disabled groups and the telephone regulator, Oftel, to draw together the expertise necessary to improve the range of equipment availably to disabled users.

The Bill also extends the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) targets for subtitling, signing and audio description to digital cable and satellite broadcasters for the first time.